Bakery firm to increase SW presence

National bakery firm Greggs is to extend its presence in the South West after receiving permission to build a regional hub in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Council planners last week gave the Newcastle-based  firm permission to build a two storey office block and bakery at Solstice Business Park near Amesbury.

The firm wants to open a further 250 stores in the region, and said it needed a regional hub to achieve this. Currently, supplies to outlets in Wiltshire and beyond have to be delivered from Twickenham and Enfield in London, Birmingham and Treforest in South Wales, the company said. 

The development means a fleet of 17ft lorries leaving during the early morning with bread and cakes, and in the afternoon with crisps and soft drinks. The firm said should be a maximum of 202 lorry movements a day.

It is expected that the facility, which will operate around the clock seven days a week, will create 300 jobs. 

The company currently has shops in Swindon, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Devizes, Warminster, Marlborough and Frome.